Considering HAL over RCCL

[2tall]

Over the last few years, my husband and I have cruised exclusively on Royal. However, we're now considering other lines that have more appealing itineraries and it looks like HAL might fit the bill. Has anybody cruised both lines? Would you be willing to give me a brief comparison of the two? Any guidance you could give would be much appreciated.

 

I tried searching for this topic as I'm sure it's been done to death...but I couldn't readily find anything...or there was user error...or both...I'm not a saavy searcher. If you have a link to a similar thread, that works, too.

[mary_228]

Perhaps you can add some more info such as the specific ships you've sailed on and the ones you are considering. I'm sure you realize how difficult it is to generalize about an entire cruise line. It also might be helpful to share what you enjoy most in terms of onboard activities, dining as so on. My middle-aged cousin and his wife sailied on HAL and commented that they were the youngest passengers by twenty years and weren't inclined to sail the line again. Of course you'd get some younger folks with holiday sailings.

[catl331]

well, if you are interested in itineraries like we are then try HAL. Yes, it is an older crowd. We fit in as we have aged with the crowd but we just like the relaxed atmosphere. We usually are too tired from walking or touring the ports to carouse at night anyway. Food is a matter of taste. You won't starve on any cruise line. We especially like the crew and the fact that service and layout is almost the same on each ship. We know what to expect. Little things don't bother us and we go with the flow. Some people are critical about the music, the shows, the teas, the decor, the pools, the casino etc. We don't waste our time crabb:)ing about things.

[jmps]

We tried HAL for the first time this last summer to Alaska. We were on the Zuiderdam; a Vista class ship. Previously we have sailed with Celebrity (4) and RCI (4). HAL is pretty close to Celebrity in feel. The difference we found between HAL and RCI are:

 

1. No climbing walls, ice rinks etc... as you will find on the larger RCI ships. HAL has (in today's standards) small (R/S) and medium (Vista) class ships. Our teens like RCI better than Celebrity for this same reason.

2. Slightly better food in the MDR and better food in the cafe.

3. We tried the non-fixed dining with HAL for the first time. Service was understandably not as nice as fixed seating on RCI and not nearly as good as fixed on Celebrity. We never did open seating on RCI (or the new open seating on Celebrity) so I can't compare.

4. The cabins are bigger in some cases. The beds are MUCH MUCH better.

5. The passengers are on average older. This will depend on time of year for your cruise. The Alaska summer cruise had more of a mixed feel. Our teens like RCI better than Celebrity for this reason. For us it doesn't make much difference.

6. The crew on HAL is generally very friendly. Perhaps a tad more friendly than RCI or Celebrity over the whole presentation.

 

We liked HAL very much. They have joined Celebrity as our favorite lines. We are next on the Westerdam in March for spring break with our 17 YO daughter. We are going back to fixed seating to see if the MDR service is better. Overall, for a couple I would choose between the two based on itinerary and HAL has some good ones. For instance the one we are taking in March goes to Aruba and Curacao from Ft. Lauderdale in seven days.

[gregdude]

I have sailed on Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Volendam so have a fairly good base to compare the two lines. I have also sailed on Celebrity Zenith. Of the three lines I would place RCI at the bottom and HAL at the top in most areas. I found the main dinning room food to be identical on every RCI ship I have sailed and in reading recent RCI posts they still offer the exact same menu. HAL Menus vary considerably in the main dinning room. The Lido restaurant is MUCH better on HAL, many more choices, varying speciality items by nationality day to day, and much better quality of food. The grill by the pool offers freshly cooked hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, turkey burgers, and fries, while RCI all of these things are in steam trays in the Lido soaking in steam and water!

 

RCI ships tend to be more modern in appearance throughout the ship while HAL ships are more traditional and understated. HAL cabins are generally larger and most provide tub and shower as well as DVD players and flat screen TVs. RCI all showers, no DVD, and on the two RCI ships I have sailed standard TVs.

 

Room service on HAL is extremely good, all food items in the restaurants can be ordered for your room, while on RCI there are very limited room service items available. If in cabin dinning is your thing HAL is your best bet.

 

Finally I have found that HAL offers many longer cruises while RCI sticks almost entirely tot he 4,5 and 7 day market. Last year I was on the Volendam for a 42 day cruise through the South Pacific and this March I will be on a 45 day cruise in South America ending in NYC. HAL still has 7 day offerings in Alaska and the Caribbean, but in general you have a much broader selection. Because HAL does longer cruise they tend to have older passengers, those who have long periods of time to cruise.

 

On the other side of the coin if you are traveling with children or grandchildren, which I did a year ago last July, RCI would be my choice. In general there are more activities that appeal to children and in general many more children aboard RCI ships.

 

If you are traveling as a couple or solo HAL or Celebrity are better options. I like HAL because of their low key approach to everything. Food is much more varied, entertainment (while not exceptional) appeals more to a mature audience (most of the time). The Exploration Lounge and the Exploration Cafe on each HAL ship provides a relaxing quiet place to read, have a cup of coffee and just relax as if you were home in your den.

 

I have also found that on HAL ships the crew gets to know you, sometimes by name, but always by recognition. Everyone smiles, says good morning, can I help you all over the ship.

 

Good luck with your decision making, no matter which line you ultimately select the success of a cruise will more often than not depend on your attitude. Go with an open mind looking for the things you really like and not with the mind that something could be better if!

[Travalerie]

Over the last few years, my husband and I have cruised exclusively on Royal. However, we're now considering other lines that have more appealing itineraries and it looks like HAL might fit the bill. Has anybody cruised both lines? Would you be willing to give me a brief comparison of the two? Any guidance you could give would be much appreciated.

 

I tried searching for this topic as I'm sure it's been done to death...but I couldn't readily find anything...or there was user error...or both...I'm not a saavy searcher. If you have a link to a similar thread, that works, too.

 

I have cruised 2 of the newer RCCL ships. In general I like HAL better. The food, service,cabins (including the bathrooms) and atmosphere are better for me. Even though I am in my thirties with 2 little ones, I did not feel out of place on my previous HAL cruise and I am going again in May. I like the quiet, the elegance and the serenity on HAL. Now, I would give the edge to Royal Caribbean on two things. I love the promenade on RCCL. I like having somewhere on the inside of the ship to walk around and people watch, grab a bite to eat, etc. Also the teen area and sports activites are awesome on RCCL. When my kids are teens, it would be hard not to want to take them on a RCCL cruise so they can experience those great ammenities. Right now they are attached at my hip so it does not matter!:)

[dag144]

I returned from my first RCC cruise on the Radiance of the Seas one month ago today. Tomorrow I am going on my 20th HAL cruise on the Oosterdam to get over the 200 day benchmark and get more goodies from HAL's less than generous new loyalty program. However, something is better than what we had before

 

If you take a veranda cabin HAL is the way to go. On the whole they have the biggest veranda cabins vs the competition. Also the outdoor space is more generous than the competition.

 

We took a grand suite on the Radiance on an 11 day Mexican cruise. To say that I was very impressed is an understatement. I loved the amenities which came with the grand suite especially the Concierge Lounge which is like the Neptune Lounge on HAL but with cocktails and a lively crowd at cocktail time. The lounge has great coffee and nice snacks.

 

I think the food on RCC is a bit better than on HAL. I also like the Windjammer because it has longer hours. One good thing about HAL's food is that I usually don't gain as much weight as I did on RCC or on Princess.

 

All in all if I were to start again and go for the loyalty program, I with go with RCC. The ship was beautiful and the crowd at least on the longer cruise was just the same as HAL. In other words, no line for the rock climbing wall!

 

Hope this is helpful.:)

[2tall]

Thanks for the quick responses! From what I read, it looks like we might have to give HAL a try to see what we think...although, frankly, it sounds like the HAL ships might be more of what we're looking for...

 

My husband and I are in our very late forties and we tend to be out of the bed at 6:00 a.m. and back in it by 10:00 p.m...even on vacation. Our focus during cruising is actually the destinations (when at port), the people we get to know and the food (when we're on the ship). We spend some time by the pool but not much. We both love to have a couple of drinks before dinner in a lounge or after an excursion but there isn't any staying up until 2:00 a.m. to dance the night away. We also don't do the shows unless talked into it by cruising friends. I can't see myself on a rock wall or a flowrider unless I have a death wish and have no desire to watch an ice show ever again (no disrespect to ice skaters intended).

 

We've sailed on the Empress, the Radiance and the Voyager. Empress has gone to Europe now but she was my favorite. She was very small and held less than 2000 passengers and that's what I prefered. I liked the Radiance as well and the promonade on the Voyager was nice but I didn't spend much time there. Our next cruise is on the Brilliance (another Radiance class ship).

 

As for the food, I too like the Windjammer for breakfast and lunch but we tend to do the main dining room for dinner. We prefer fixed seating as we can either get to know new people who (poor things) are forced to sit with us or can link our reservations with people we already know. I guess it's almost as much about the social interaction as it is about the food, although that is important as well.

 

I prefer balconies as I spend a fair amount of time out there all day just watching the water so a larger balcony would be nice. I would also be nice to NOT have to fight a sticky shower curtain.

 

When you say that passengers are older, can you define that? I mean, I guess we're technically older (especially if you ask a 30 year old) but I tend to think of 80 as "older." I guess we all have a different frame of reference.

[EatonDoolittle]

A few frivolous differences -

 

> RCCL no port info / maps brought to the cabin the night before (a few available at the gangway, but that is too late IMO, to make plans for the day) HAL - delivered nightly with the ship's news paper

> RCCL no outside world daily newspaper at all (HAL - NY Times delivered to the cabin daily)

> RCCL no pillow chocolates ( HAL yes). It is a small item, yes, but indicative of the cost cutting aspect of RCCL

>RCCL no "just because" pillow gift. HAL > everybody gets a cloth logo'd shopping bag. Yes, I have a lot of them, it's the thought that counts

> RCCL returnting pax get a homely looking baseball cap - guess they think they all are truck drivers? HAL - the all important ceramic tiles.

 

On the plus side - RCCL calls before they bring your morning coffee - gives you a chance to open your eyes and get a robe on. HAL just shows up, often waking one up (well, me, anyway).

Also - the RCCL ships are brighter and prettier - HAL is darker, more traditional looking.

[dag144]

Another difference in favor of HAL. HAL has a terrific lido pool on each ship with a truly retractable roof. It is much better than the retractable roofed pools on RCC and Princess which look like Victorian type winter gardens to me. Most HAL ships (except the Veendam and the Rotterdam which both have a strange new set up instead of a true pool) have a very nice outdoor pool area at the stern of the ship.

 

The Radiance has only one truly outdoor pool in the center of the ship which can get quite crowded. This is an aspect of HAL that I truly like.

 

Another thing about fellow passengers. Age does not necessarily go hand in hand with style and good manners. HAL has some miserable old farts as well as nice people as do ALL of the cruise lines.:)

[catl331]

age varies according to time of year and length of cruise. On the longer cruises there are many older retirees as they have to time to be away. Cruises out of FL tend to have older crowds. Cruises to Alaska have a variety of ages. Last yr on a 10 day cruise in Dec. (before holidays) there were quite a few people over 75 yrs. This yr. same ship, same time--not so many. I think HAL also caters to retirees. They are used to them and also the crew comes from Asia where they respect their grandparents! On the other hand, that crew loves children because they don't get to see theirs at home often. Try it and let us know!